Bread of Life
August 4, 2024
Psalm 78:23-29 and John 6:24-35
Have you ever had those days when you just could not get enough to eat? You have a
hankering or a craving for a particular thing, but you cannot quite put your finger on it. You
open cabinets, drawers and refrigerator doors searching for that one thing that is going to
satisfy your hunger, but you just can’t seem to find it. So you settle for whatever you have, and
although you have consumed the item, you still hunger for more.
It seems in our scripture in John today that the people, although having been fed, come
back to Jesus searching for more.
Now I don’t know about you, but I kind of admire them for this action. They didn’t just
sit there complaining that all the food was gone, they went looking for more. They took action
to find something to satisfy their longing, to satisfy their appetite.
Perhaps they remembered the story of old that the Psalmist speaks about where the
manna rained down from heaven, and maybe they were looking for more of the same. I mean,
it had happened at least once before, so perhaps it could happen to them.
It’s sort of like playing the lottery. Maybe you have never won, but you know someone
who has, so you go and play time after time, hoping to get the winning ticket.
The people go to Jesus looking for the lottery, food in abundance. But they were
looking for the wrong food. They went seeking the food that doesn’t last, the food that doesn’t
satisfy, and the food that was not the lottery.
“What must we do?” They asked. “What sign are you going to give?” They asked.
Wasn’t the previous action of feeding the multitude with just a few fish and loaves sign
enough!
Maybe these people were in the back of the massive crowd and had not seen Jesus turn
the few fish and bread into enough to feed the crowd. Perhaps one sign was not enough for
them, maybe they needed two signs or three signs or four. How many signs and what sign was
enough for them.
I used to have a roommate long ago, and she was a faithful Christian. She read her bible
daily, and she had this idejhat she would know the man she was supposed to marry. The man
God was going to send her because that man was going to give her a music box.
The first time she told me this, I almost laughed, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings,
but then I was curious, and I asked her, “How do you know the man you are to marry is going to
give you a music box?”
She replied, “Because I prayed about it, and asked God to give me this sign that when
the right man came along for me, that he would gift me with a music box, and I would know he
was the one God sent.”
Now, y’all … 1 thought I had been missing out! I didn’t know you could ask for such
specific signs from God and actually get them. I was amazed, but I had a sense of doubt in my
gut. Something just didn’t fit for me about this personal request. But I admired her faith, and I
thought, maybe God will bless her with a man with a music box.
As time went by, she started dating a guy that she was just crazy about. They had a lot
of fun, they were dating a lot, and things seemed to be progressing pretty seriously, but he
never arrived with a music box … although, he did buy her a tailgate for her truck once …. that’s a
story for another day.
Well, as time went by, she grew a little impatient because she really liked this guy, but
no music box ever came. So one day she said to him, “I would really like a music box.”
Now I have no idea if he gave her the music box, but I know the relationship ended
between the two of them and she went on to marry someone else, and I often wondered if that
man had given her a music box.
What I am left wondering though, is God providing signs to us that we are just oblivious
to see? Is the manna of heaven raining down on us, and we are so busy with life that we miss
the manna before us because we are looking for the wrong sign when all we need is faith that
God provides the true manna that we need.
In his writings, C. S. Lewis shared a reflection from his book “The Pilgrim’s Regress,” on
Psalm 78:40, ‘”One road leads home and a thousand roads lead into the wilderness.”
Sometimes, it’s so hard to find that one road home. We find ourselves all over and
everywhere in the wilderness, when that one road is right before us.
Sometimes we get off the one road home because we see something shiny or new or
different or that we think is better in the wilderness, so we go looking for that sign, leaving the
one true bread behind.
However …. however, God is good, and for whatever reason that is beyond our
reasoning, the manna still rains down. Jesus continues to save us from ourselves day after day,
and directs us back to the one road home.
And for that I say, “To God be the glory!”
Let’s just pause a moment. Maybe you want to close your eyes. But let’s just take a
moment and think about the manna raining down. We are here today in this holy place, and
Jesus is rai~ing down the manna upon us from his Abba Father. And doesn’t it feel good!
God’s manna is falling down upon us, and it is warm, and loving, and it gives us strength,
and healing. It gives us sustenance that is more satisfying than anything we can find in a
kitchen cabinet or our refrigerator.
God’s manna takes away our pain, our loneliness, our grief and our disappointments in
life so that we can remain on that one road home.
We are filled with the bread of life … manna from heaven … provided by our Abba Father.
To God be the glory … say it with me, “to God be the glory!” Amen.
This evening at 4 p.m., I hope you all with gather with me again to celebrate my recommissioning
to this church as your Pastor.
I am humbled and excited at the same time! I want you all to understand that God has
called me to this place at this time so that we can walk this one road home together. I don’t
know how long the journey will be, but I know that I am in the best company a person could
ever ask for. To be in the company of people by whom you are loved and supported is the most
humbling place to be.
Dick and I love you and we love this church, this holy place where we are together right
now in this time. My only request is that you journey with me. Together, let’s stay focused on
that one road home so that in our journey together, we can share the light and love of Jesus
that is before us. We can share the manna that rains down upon us with others who are
looking for that rain, for that nourishment. There is no other bread that satisfies, except that
provided by the Son of Man sent from heaven by God. Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. That is
our sign.
Let us go to Jesus together, let us believe together, so that together we never hunger or
thirst again.
To God be the glory.
(Silent Reflection)
[SPECIAL MUSIC]
[AFFIRMATION OF FAITH and GLORY TO GOD]
[PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER]
God of Heaven, who sends manna to fill us with the true bread of life, we give you thanks for your Son,
Jesus. Hear our prayers this day, 0 Lord, as we pray for so many in need of the bread of life. We pray
for world leaders that hunger more for power, than the bread of heaven. We pray for corruption that
leads to war and death, causing many to be displaced from their homes and families torn apart. We ask
that you thwart the minds of those who hunger for war, those who hunger for power, and those who
abuse both children and adults. Lord we pray that minds of evil will be confused so that their plans
cannot be completed, and those who hunger for peace may eat the bread of life and no longer hunger
or thirst. God of healing, there are so many in our midst that are in need of healing, those who are
dealing with ailments of all kind, all of which you know. We pause now to remember all those who have
asked for our prayers and whose needs you know
intimately ______________ _ __ _
Hear our prayers this day for those who walk the one road home, that their focus is on Jesus who brings
life to the world, the one sent by you to nourish us. Hear our prayers for those who wander in the
wilderness searching for what satisfies, we pray that you lead them to the one road home, and that you
use us in whatever way to help them find their way home. We give you thanks and praise always, and
ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, through the Holy Spirit, as we join together in
the prayer Jesus taught us to say …. Our Father, who art in heaven …… .. _ _________ _
Amen.
[THE GIVING OF OFFERINGS]
As we give thanks for the Bread of Life, and all the blessings provided by the manna that
continues to rain down from heaven, let us return a portion of our gifts to God.
Your offerings may be placed in the plates in the back of the sanctuary, mailed in to the church
office, or given online at firstpresvaldosta.org.
All gifts are appreciated and used to further Jesus’ work in the world so that all may walk the
road home.
Now in a moment of silence, let us give thanks for all that we have, and consider what is ours to
share.
(Silence) ____________________________ _
[DOXOLOGY]
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son, Jesus, so that we might have life, and have it more
abundantly. Take these our gifts, multiply them if it be your will, so that we might continue
sharing all that we have with those who are in need. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
HYMN 498
[THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION]
There is no other thing in the wilderness that quenches our hunger and thirst like the bread of
God which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Friends, we need no sign.
Jesus simply says, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and
whoever believes in me will never thirst. It is the very thing that gives us life.
If you are visiting with us, know that this is not a Presbyterian table, it is Christ’s table, and
Christ invites all who love him, and all who long to love him more, come taste the manna from
heaven, for it is good.
Let us pray:
Jesus, you are the very manna sent from heaven, the bread that you have prepared before us,
the cup of the new covenant, it is all from our Father in Heaven, who sent you so that we might
have life, and have it more abundantly. As we take this bread and cup, we give you thanks and
praise for all your blessings. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that others know the love and joy that
comes through the peace you bring when they know the satisfying taste that only you can
provide. We give you thanks in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE LORD BE WITH YOU
And also with you
LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS
We lift them to the Lord .
LET US GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD OUR GOD
It is truly right and our greatest joy.
On the night of his arrest, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks to God, he broke it saying
this is my body given for you. Whenever you eat it, remember me.
In the same way, he took the cup, saying this is the cup of the new covenant sealed in my blood
for the forgiveness of sins, whenever you drink it, remember me.
Each time we eat this bread and drink this cup, we remember Christ’s death, we proclaim his
resurrection and we await his glorious return. These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
Come, taste and see that the Lord is good.
[PRAYER OF COMMITMENT]
Lord, you send the bread of angels so that we might live in abundance. May we know your
abundance through sharing your love and blessings so that others know you the way we know
you. May we be the light for our community, so that all may see your wonder and realize your
gifts of healing. For it is through the Holy Spirit and in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
HYMN 300
BENEDICTION
When was the last time you shared the bread of life with someone? Was it yesterday when you
shared a smile? Was it this morning, when you opened a door to this sanctuary? Wherever
you go, know that you are filled with the manna of heaven, and it is yours to share with all you
meet on the road home.
Let us go now remembering
That all the blessings of heaven are ours
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
To God be the glory!
Go in peace.